If God exists, what would God appreciate better: a thinking Christian or obedient christian?

Question

I know there is a dichotomy; don't deny it. I've been a christian and I've actually seen christians who quote bible verses and are highly obedient. They do everything by the book and they are indeed good people. But what has left me questioning is, didn't God give us a mind to use? Why can't we think, question, and make actual decisions based on two or more choices?

The other possible kind of Christian would be the one that does have doubts, does err and more likely to admit it, etc.
These christians bring doubt into the fold and help others doubt. They would be a "bad influence" on the young.


In the human perspective, I highly encourage the behavior of the thinking christian; yet, "christians" will shake their head and try to steer newfound christians away from such people. Isn't it highly encouraging to know that we do have brains and capable of thinking, so let's go over some of the doubts... because we are capable. Yet, you will not find this to be the case.

Answer 1

Hi,

To answer your questions: Yes, God gave us a mind to USE. We absolutely CAN think, question, & make actual decisions based on two or more choices. This is one thing that separates us from animals (& seemingly mindless sheep- no sarcasm intended- ok maybe a little, but I get the analogy. The Lord IS my shepherd...).

We are SUPPOSED to think for ourselves & make choices (our God-given right). Although the seeming "need" (desire) for immediate gratification is there, it is much more beneficial to our growth, to align our choices w/ God or a higher level of thinking (a higher consciousness). Therefore, to answer your question: I would say that ideally, a thinking christian IS an obediant christian.

My view (so far): The Bible is (or was) meant to be our "guide book". It was originally written several thousand yrs ago. I do believe that it was Divinely inspired- THEN! However, I also believe that it has been messed with- changed, altered, though probably for the most part- still originally "intact" (I don't know). Most of what I've read in it has been very helpful & comforting to me, especially in times of need, thus I highly value the Bible. I've found much of the so-called christian belief systems to be fear-based & contradictory, & for the most part, they do not resonate w/ my idea of a loving God. Therefore, I do not attend church, simply because I've found NONE that give me what I went there for in the 1st place.

I've read some of your questions & posts. You say you are agnostic, though some of your words do not reflect what I would call "true agnostic", but rather they reflect wisdom, discernment, compassion, & higher values (I would call this your expression of the God within you). Maybe you do believe in God (or whatever you choose to call it), but you just don't see it as the "bible belt" version of God (me either!).

I believe that you are going to make a very fine nurse!

Answer 2

First we can critique your reasoning and then your information, the two one in each and every of that are preposterous. REASONING. Do you recognize you sound like an entire fool utilising reason to argue against reason !! A Christian is in straightforward terms a Christian via fact reason has popular that what's assumed is genuine. And the call of the rest is FIDEISM a heresy. ( see definition under) So in the event that they found out God does not exist that could advise that a similar reason that certain them He does, has been proved incorrect, the explanation this is and not GOD. can no longer you notice which you're arguing against your self. If faith can not be consistent with reason then neither can opposition to faith, with the end result that your atheism ought to take a seat down back ON faith !!! attempt this so which you do no longer act the clown anymore. a minimum of you will understand what you're battling against. Aristotle as against the Atheists: on the life of God and the Immortality of the Soul Paul Berry information Christians -- like all and sundry else -- get their morality from judgment of right and incorrect, this is the beginning up and the top. in case you pass to Hell for no longer following explicitly Biblical or Christian morals it relatively is for judgment of right and incorrect, specifically culpable lack of know-how. additionally, the two Judaism and Christianity have been in being for huge quantities of time whilst the two there became no Bible or negligible direct wisdom of it. ============== Fideism is an epistemological concept which keeps that faith is self sufficient of reason, or that reason and faith are antagonistic to a minimum of one yet another

Answer 3

God does exist, with our sinful eyes we cant see Him.
God would appreciate better: a obedient christian over a thinking Christian. Many people think about many good things, but who is doing them? Bible says "who so ever calls Lord, Lord will not go to Heaven but the one who will do God's ways and commandments will go to Heaven". So obedient one is better. How much a man may think but the end is death and will turn to dust. Man can not think better. Man's heart is always filled with full of sin and deceitfulness. (Bible says so) they may think great things, still it will be less than grass, and dust. Nothing in the world can change God's work and will.

Answer 4

We are to be obedient to God. Thinking is an unrelated issue except that in thinking we must not go against the will of God. Proof of this is with those who do not have thinking minds. Would God reject a profoundly retarded individual because he could not think but could love Him and try to follow His ways? On the other hand we have those who think very well and refuse to follow God or believe He even exists. Which is preferable?

Answer 5

The Jesuits were the thinking Catholics, widely distrusted by the
unthinking faithful. The unthinking stood by while the libraries of Europe were sacked and burned, and if it weren't for the Jesuits, we'd have lost countless treasures of the classic times.

Peculiarly enough, the Moslems Universities of Spain preserved this knowledge. A large part of the knowledge was information of great value to Biblical scholars and other historians.

In this case the thinking Christians did a great service to the unthinking.

I think God, if she exists, would not want her children to be ignorant.

Answer 6

I think the question depends on whom you trust to interpret the will of God. If you are skeptical concerning what other people claim to be the will of God, then you would be wise to think for yourself concerning what God wants you to do. I would also recommend this thinking path because it is, presumably, your own eternal soul that is at stake if you are a Christian. Why would you trust the interpretation of other people when the stakes are so high?

Answer 7

Anyone who truly understands authentic Christianity finds both their intellect and and their will in perfect harmony.

The desires of the flesh continue to battle against both.

Answer 8

So in your mind, a "thinking" Christian is one who has doubts and attempts to sway others into conforming with their doubts? After thinking about your question, it sounds spiritually dangerous to me.

It's okay to have doubts from time to time, everyone does, but a thinking Christian will work and research and try to learn to try to resolve those doubts, and have faith in Christ regardless.

Answer 9

It takes both to be a SUCCESSFUL Christian, dear one. Christians need to THINK in order to be obedient, and vice versa.

God bless!

Answer 10

YOU..... FALSELY..... ASSUME... FACTS... NOT... IN.. EVIDENCE....!

An OBEDIENT CHRISTIAN..... IS.... A.... THINKING CHRISTIAN.....

.... BECAUSE......

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man.

(Ecc 12:14) For God = shall bring = every work into judgment, = with every secret thing, = whether it is good, = or whether evil.

Thanks, RR